Operation Clifton

Operation Clifton (30 June 2008) was a military operation of the Iraq War carried out by the United States against Iraqi insurgents in the city of Ramadi in Anbar Governorate. The Americans were able to neutralize the insurgent threat in the city in a successful operation.

History
The US Marine Corps planned to launch a sweep of the city of Ramadi as a result of the fierce engagements between the USMC and Iraqi insurgents, and the local population fled the city as a result. The Americans intercepted a radio transmission regarding an insurgent raid, and they set out to restore order in Ramadi. Lieutenant Tony B. Rivers led a force of around 200 marines to go street-to-street in the city and root out the 200 or so militants under Abu Muthana al-Saudi and Zamil Sami, with some of the insurgents being imported fighters. The two sides engaged in deadly combat, and the insurgents won the first half of the operation. However, the marines proceeded to get the upper hand in the second part of the battle, with the insurgents inflicting heavy losses on the Americans in a building at a street corner before American troops cleared the rooms and captured it. The Americans then proceeded to take control of the city, defeating the insurgents and killing al-Saudi and Sami in addition to several more mujahideen fighters.